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THE TERROR BEGINS...
A medical investigator tormented by secret guilt.
A beautiful doctor with an illicit desire.
A millionaire businessman indulging a passion for murder.
And a human guinea pig who has been awake for seven straight weeks.
...WHEN YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES
DISTURB by JA Konrath
You'll never sleep again...
If you are a more sensitive (or adventurous) reader, this handy scale rates specific categories from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest) to give you some idea if this is your kind of book.
DISTURB
Scary - 6
Violent - 6
Funny - 2
Sexy - 3
Crossovers - Includes characters from the Konrath Dark Thriller Collective, the Jack Daniels thrillers, the Codename: Chandler series, and the Timecaster series.
A medical investigator tormented by secret guilt.
A beautiful doctor with an illicit desire.
A millionaire businessman indulging a passion for murder.
And a human guinea pig who has been awake for seven straight weeks.
...WHEN YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES
DISTURB by JA Konrath
You'll never sleep again...
If you are a more sensitive (or adventurous) reader, this handy scale rates specific categories from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest) to give you some idea if this is your kind of book.
DISTURB
Scary - 6
Violent - 6
Funny - 2
Sexy - 3
Crossovers - Includes characters from the Konrath Dark Thriller Collective, the Jack Daniels thrillers, the Codename: Chandler series, and the Timecaster series.
372 pages, ebook
First published April 11, 2009
466 people are currently reading
1588 people want to read
About the author
J.A. Konrath
199 books3,015 followersJoe Konrath has written over twenty novels in the Lt. Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels thriller series. They do not have to be read chronologically to be enjoyed, but the order is: Whiskey Sour, Bloody Mary, Rusty Nail, Dirty Martini, Shot of Tequila, Fuzzy Navel, Cherry Bomb, Dead On My Feet, Serial Killers Uncut (with Blake Crouch), Shaken, Stirred (with Blake Crouch), Dying Breath, Everybody Dies, Rum Runner, Last Call, White Russian, Shot Girl, Chaser, Old Fashioned, Bite Force, and Witch Brew. More coming soon.
Wow, that's a lot of Jack.
If you like your thrillers on the dark side, check out the Konrath Dark Thriller Collective, which includes the books The List, Origin, Afraid, Trapped, Endurance, Haunted House, Webcam, Disturb, What Happened To Lori, The Nine, Second Coming, and Close Your Eyes.
Joe also wrote the Stop A Murder mystery puzzle series, where you become the sleuth and solve brain teasers to try and catch a killer.
He also wrote the sci-fi trilogy, Timecaster, Timecaster Supersymmetry, and Timecaster Steampunk. Even if you don't think you like sci-fi, give them a try. They feature Joe's well-known characters from his other series, and are insane.
With Ann Voss Peterson he wrote the Codename: Chandler thrillers, including Flee, Spree, Three, Hit, Exposed, Naughty, Fix (with F. Paul Wilson), Rescue, and Free.
And, finally, he writes erotica under the pen name Melinda DuChamp, also with Ann Voss Peterson. Those books are probably too spicy for you, so only the brave and bold should seek them out.
Joe writes a lot. You should probably read everything.
You can visit Joe and sign up for his newsletter at www.JAKonrath.com/mailing-list.php
Wow, that's a lot of Jack.
If you like your thrillers on the dark side, check out the Konrath Dark Thriller Collective, which includes the books The List, Origin, Afraid, Trapped, Endurance, Haunted House, Webcam, Disturb, What Happened To Lori, The Nine, Second Coming, and Close Your Eyes.
Joe also wrote the Stop A Murder mystery puzzle series, where you become the sleuth and solve brain teasers to try and catch a killer.
He also wrote the sci-fi trilogy, Timecaster, Timecaster Supersymmetry, and Timecaster Steampunk. Even if you don't think you like sci-fi, give them a try. They feature Joe's well-known characters from his other series, and are insane.
With Ann Voss Peterson he wrote the Codename: Chandler thrillers, including Flee, Spree, Three, Hit, Exposed, Naughty, Fix (with F. Paul Wilson), Rescue, and Free.
And, finally, he writes erotica under the pen name Melinda DuChamp, also with Ann Voss Peterson. Those books are probably too spicy for you, so only the brave and bold should seek them out.
Joe writes a lot. You should probably read everything.
You can visit Joe and sign up for his newsletter at www.JAKonrath.com/mailing-list.php
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
April 20, 2020
I am a major J.A. Konrath/Jack Kilborn fan; I’ve read and enjoyed almost all of the Jack Daniels books and am still dealing with the trauma of the horror collective (Afraid, Trapped, Endurance,Haunted House, Web Cam, etc.).
Given all that, I expected so much more from a J.A. Konrath novel.
Part sci-fi, part thriller, part horror, and part romantic suspense (anyone who knows me knows how much I *love* that genre) J.A. Konrath’s Disturb has good bones but the flesh leaves much to be desired.
We start with an intriguing, if not especially original, premise; greed, power, corruption and sociopathy converge on a troubled, morally upright FDA drone and his smart and sexy love interest.
“Are you sick of getting tired? Never have enough time in the day to get everything done? Want more out of life?” (Konrath).
Imagine waking up from a 15-minute nap, fully refreshed and ready to take on the world! Imagine being mortally injured and healing in minutes!
Introducing EnSOM, the innovative drug that promises to return the 30 or so years human kind loses to sleep. With EnSOM, you will experience unimaginable super-humanity and ultra-productivity!
EnSom works with your brain to suppress your circadian rhythm, the mechanism that determines your body’s sleep wake schedule.
This change allows you to remain awake for several days with almost none of the physical or cognitive consequences!
Patients who’ve taken EnSOM reported intense, realistic nightmares, headaches, lethargy, and loss of appetite.
Other side effects include brain lesion’s, homicidal tendencies, sadism, and infinite and irreparable psychological and emotional damage.
Call your doctor if you’d like to be slowly and painfully silenced about the aforementioned profound and far-reaching side effects.
I jumped on this immediately thinking I was going to b in for a long and intensely frightening night of gore, twists, turns, and nail-biting tension.
I got some of that, but it was all kind of meh. Everything seemed rushed and half-baked, and I didn’t get that “sigh, they made it through the night” feeling I usually get upon coming out the other side of one of Konrath/Kilborn’s books.
I’m not joking; as you drift off to sleep, you hope and pray to every deity you’ve ever heard of that nothing like that will ever happen, ever.
Suddenly, a floor board creaks, the water heater clinks, and you curse yourself for having read past page one.
One thing I’ve always appreciated about Konrath is his talent for taking cliched horror stories and turning them into the kind of psychological and emotional mindfucks that have you wanting to sleep sitting up with a gun on your lap and with every single light in the house on.
Disturb, though, was a mélange of tried, true, and boring, complete with yawn-worthy ruthless, megalomaniacal executives and medical professionals, conspiracies that “go all the way to the top,” and the decaying bodies of previous investigators who “knew too much.”
The main characters didn’t so much go “on the run” as drag each other by the wrist from one death trap to the next; why, for the love of all that is good and pure, would you go to your apartment and, more importantly, back into the killers’ lair where there are few exits and no way to communicate with the outside world?
The blurb gave me the impression that they were going to be off the grid and on the road, holing up in hotels and narrowly escaping capture. I love on the run stories, and a Konrath/Kilborn on-the-run story was going to be a crazy ride.
Boy was I disappointed.
To be clear, this isn’t an accusation of plagiarism; Konrath writes circles around Linda Howard and Sandra brown. That being said, the plot and characters could have come out of any one of their books.
And of course I’m going to kvetch about the whiny, whimpering female half of the couple who hid behind the male half and, for the most part, contributed little to nothing to their collective survival. Her proposed strategies were so naïve and suicidal that, at one point, I started to root for the killers.
Even the major twist at the end doesn’t make up for that annoyance.
In the afterward, Konrath himself admits that this is not his best work. Calling Disturb his “red-headed stepchild,” he attributes the novel’s mediocrity to an absence of humor.
He goes on to explain that while he ”[loves] the main concept and many of the scenes and ideas, there is very little of [him] in the book.
For me, the “there’s no humor” excuse doesn’t really fly, as the horror novels aren’t remotely funny but are miles above this one in terms of quality.
Moreover, the humorous aspect of the Jack Daniels books isn't what keeps me reading. To be honest, they aren't all that funny to me. Rather, it is the tension, mystery, and horror that keep me glued to my seat.
Altogether, the horror collective and Jack Daniels novels are intense, gut-wrenching and fast-paced novels that go in unpredictable directions.
Disturb offers none of that. Three stars.
Given all that, I expected so much more from a J.A. Konrath novel.
Part sci-fi, part thriller, part horror, and part romantic suspense (anyone who knows me knows how much I *love* that genre) J.A. Konrath’s Disturb has good bones but the flesh leaves much to be desired.
We start with an intriguing, if not especially original, premise; greed, power, corruption and sociopathy converge on a troubled, morally upright FDA drone and his smart and sexy love interest.
“Are you sick of getting tired? Never have enough time in the day to get everything done? Want more out of life?” (Konrath).
Imagine waking up from a 15-minute nap, fully refreshed and ready to take on the world! Imagine being mortally injured and healing in minutes!
Introducing EnSOM, the innovative drug that promises to return the 30 or so years human kind loses to sleep. With EnSOM, you will experience unimaginable super-humanity and ultra-productivity!
EnSom works with your brain to suppress your circadian rhythm, the mechanism that determines your body’s sleep wake schedule.
This change allows you to remain awake for several days with almost none of the physical or cognitive consequences!
Patients who’ve taken EnSOM reported intense, realistic nightmares, headaches, lethargy, and loss of appetite.
Other side effects include brain lesion’s, homicidal tendencies, sadism, and infinite and irreparable psychological and emotional damage.
Call your doctor if you’d like to be slowly and painfully silenced about the aforementioned profound and far-reaching side effects.
I jumped on this immediately thinking I was going to b in for a long and intensely frightening night of gore, twists, turns, and nail-biting tension.
I got some of that, but it was all kind of meh. Everything seemed rushed and half-baked, and I didn’t get that “sigh, they made it through the night” feeling I usually get upon coming out the other side of one of Konrath/Kilborn’s books.
I’m not joking; as you drift off to sleep, you hope and pray to every deity you’ve ever heard of that nothing like that will ever happen, ever.
Suddenly, a floor board creaks, the water heater clinks, and you curse yourself for having read past page one.
One thing I’ve always appreciated about Konrath is his talent for taking cliched horror stories and turning them into the kind of psychological and emotional mindfucks that have you wanting to sleep sitting up with a gun on your lap and with every single light in the house on.
Disturb, though, was a mélange of tried, true, and boring, complete with yawn-worthy ruthless, megalomaniacal executives and medical professionals, conspiracies that “go all the way to the top,” and the decaying bodies of previous investigators who “knew too much.”
The main characters didn’t so much go “on the run” as drag each other by the wrist from one death trap to the next; why, for the love of all that is good and pure, would you go to your apartment and, more importantly, back into the killers’ lair where there are few exits and no way to communicate with the outside world?
The blurb gave me the impression that they were going to be off the grid and on the road, holing up in hotels and narrowly escaping capture. I love on the run stories, and a Konrath/Kilborn on-the-run story was going to be a crazy ride.
Boy was I disappointed.
To be clear, this isn’t an accusation of plagiarism; Konrath writes circles around Linda Howard and Sandra brown. That being said, the plot and characters could have come out of any one of their books.
And of course I’m going to kvetch about the whiny, whimpering female half of the couple who hid behind the male half and, for the most part, contributed little to nothing to their collective survival. Her proposed strategies were so naïve and suicidal that, at one point, I started to root for the killers.
Even the major twist at the end doesn’t make up for that annoyance.
In the afterward, Konrath himself admits that this is not his best work. Calling Disturb his “red-headed stepchild,” he attributes the novel’s mediocrity to an absence of humor.
He goes on to explain that while he ”[loves] the main concept and many of the scenes and ideas, there is very little of [him] in the book.
For me, the “there’s no humor” excuse doesn’t really fly, as the horror novels aren’t remotely funny but are miles above this one in terms of quality.
Moreover, the humorous aspect of the Jack Daniels books isn't what keeps me reading. To be honest, they aren't all that funny to me. Rather, it is the tension, mystery, and horror that keep me glued to my seat.
Altogether, the horror collective and Jack Daniels novels are intense, gut-wrenching and fast-paced novels that go in unpredictable directions.
Disturb offers none of that. Three stars.
November 17, 2018
Imagine being able to take a pill and not have to spend eight hours sleeping? It's an intriguing concept and the author clearly has taken chops from the likes of Robin Cook to roll out this sleep-depriving, fast-paced read. The pacing isn't fast, it's frenetic, and there is little time spent getting to know the characters.
Not enough time.
It is intentionally plot-driven, not character-driven, I think to a detriment. I'm the kind of reader who likes to get to know characters a bit before (and after through the eyes of others) they are killed. If I don't know enough (pertinent information about) the characters, it's difficult for me to become fully immersed in the story and care what happens to them.
Not enough time.
It is intentionally plot-driven, not character-driven, I think to a detriment. I'm the kind of reader who likes to get to know characters a bit before (and after through the eyes of others) they are killed. If I don't know enough (pertinent information about) the characters, it's difficult for me to become fully immersed in the story and care what happens to them.
April 21, 2018
Dr. William May, an agent from the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), has been assigned to evaluate a drug called N-Som that eliminates the need for sleep. Supposedly, there are several incredible benefits and no adverse effects.
Yet, it doesn't take Dr. May long to realize that he hasn't been given accurate data. Worse, his life is threatened and he quickly learns that no one can be trusted--not even the police or FBI.
This was an intriguing story that captured my attention from the start. It's a very well-written and suspenseful medical thriller. The author did a great job with his biology/physiology research...with one little exception.
Konrath - please note: It's the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus (SCN) not superachiasmatic nucleus.
Yet, it doesn't take Dr. May long to realize that he hasn't been given accurate data. Worse, his life is threatened and he quickly learns that no one can be trusted--not even the police or FBI.
This was an intriguing story that captured my attention from the start. It's a very well-written and suspenseful medical thriller. The author did a great job with his biology/physiology research...with one little exception.
Konrath - please note: It's the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus (SCN) not superachiasmatic nucleus.
July 22, 2012
Imagine being able to take a pill and not have to spend eight hours sleeping? It's a great idea and the author clearly has taken chops from the likes of Robin Cook to roll out this sleep-depriving, fast-paced read. The pacing isn't fast, it's frenetic, and there is little time spent getting to know the characters. It is intentionally plot-driven, not character-driven, I think to a detriment. I'm the kind of reader who likes to get to know characters a bit before (and after through the eyes of others) they are killed. If I don't know enough (pertinent information about) the characters, it's difficult for me to get fully immersed in the story and care what happens to them.
In the afterword which I found enlightening, the author says Disturb was rejected from all the major publishing houses and his agent "hated it." Bummer. If the agent had worked with the author and gotten him an enthusiastic editor to help work out some of the characterization issues this book could have had some serious potential because the concept is really good. Unfortunately, in the condition at the time I read, it reads much like what it really is: an almost there trunk novel. I loved the idea, liked the pacing, found the descriptions adequate, and disliked the characterization. Average all that out to 2.5 stars, rounded up. Recommended only for J.A. Konrath completists.
In the afterword which I found enlightening, the author says Disturb was rejected from all the major publishing houses and his agent "hated it." Bummer. If the agent had worked with the author and gotten him an enthusiastic editor to help work out some of the characterization issues this book could have had some serious potential because the concept is really good. Unfortunately, in the condition at the time I read, it reads much like what it really is: an almost there trunk novel. I loved the idea, liked the pacing, found the descriptions adequate, and disliked the characterization. Average all that out to 2.5 stars, rounded up. Recommended only for J.A. Konrath completists.
October 6, 2013
Not bad. Not the best thing I've ever read, and I didn't like it nearly as much as I did 'Origin' by the same author (which I loved).
But about this one: Eh. It was ok. There were parts that were intriguing, and parts that flowed, but for the most part it wasn't my cuppa. It's pretty obvious at the beginning what's going on and what's going to happen. I think the twists and shocks may have read a lot more, you know, twisty and shocking five years ago, but for me it was pretty predictable. As a life-long insomniac, I did find the premise really interesting but I thought the execution (ha) was...eh. Not bad, really, but it could have been so much more. The potential didn't pan out, I didn't think.
I'm very "eh" about it, obviously.
I may try 'The List' or one of his Jack Daniels stories, but not right away.
But about this one: Eh. It was ok. There were parts that were intriguing, and parts that flowed, but for the most part it wasn't my cuppa. It's pretty obvious at the beginning what's going on and what's going to happen. I think the twists and shocks may have read a lot more, you know, twisty and shocking five years ago, but for me it was pretty predictable. As a life-long insomniac, I did find the premise really interesting but I thought the execution (ha) was...eh. Not bad, really, but it could have been so much more. The potential didn't pan out, I didn't think.
I'm very "eh" about it, obviously.
I may try 'The List' or one of his Jack Daniels stories, but not right away.
October 28, 2019
This was an excellent read. I love the concept of a pill that allows a person to go with no sleep. This was a great mystery surrounding the hidden side effects of the drug and the agenda of the people running the company. There was a lot of action and horror and it was a very fast paced read with many twists. Loved it.
May 30, 2018
What a fun read! I really enjoy the Konrath/Killborn collection.
June 5, 2013
I became aware of author J. A. Konrath through the many freebies that Amazon offers its Kindle readers. After downloading and reading Konrath's "Afraid", I realized had to have more. This book, "Disturb" was my second foray into the author's world and won't be the last. Konrath (aka Jack Kilborn) is an outstanding plotter and builder of suspense. This book has copious amounts of both.
In "Disturb", Konrath creates a Robin Cook-like medical thriller revolving around a drug, N-Som, that makes sleep unnecessary. Think of the possibilities... As the inventors and researchers responsible for the creation of the drug start the process with the FDA to get N-Som approved, strange things begin to happen to the people responsible for the drug. Konrath does a great job introducing a number of plot-relevant characters that are fairly fleshed out.
The book has plenty (and I mean PLENTY) of twists and turns as Konrath peels away the layers of suspense involved with the side effects that accompany the benefits of the drug. Most readers should find themselves flipping page after page as they attempt to figure which direction the next plot twist will take them. The book is almost cinematic in that respect and would make a nice film.
Though not as riveting as "Afraid", "Disturb" is able to stand on its own feet and delivers thrills page after page. Fans of Konrath/Kilborn will want to add this book to their "read" list.
In "Disturb", Konrath creates a Robin Cook-like medical thriller revolving around a drug, N-Som, that makes sleep unnecessary. Think of the possibilities... As the inventors and researchers responsible for the creation of the drug start the process with the FDA to get N-Som approved, strange things begin to happen to the people responsible for the drug. Konrath does a great job introducing a number of plot-relevant characters that are fairly fleshed out.
The book has plenty (and I mean PLENTY) of twists and turns as Konrath peels away the layers of suspense involved with the side effects that accompany the benefits of the drug. Most readers should find themselves flipping page after page as they attempt to figure which direction the next plot twist will take them. The book is almost cinematic in that respect and would make a nice film.
Though not as riveting as "Afraid", "Disturb" is able to stand on its own feet and delivers thrills page after page. Fans of Konrath/Kilborn will want to add this book to their "read" list.
July 18, 2010
I discovered Konrath through his free book give-away on his website. Inspired. Apparently, he dusted off some of his early work that was not published. I liked a couple of his novellas so much I went off and bought the rest of his titles for my Kindle.
Disturb involves a billionaire who has discovered a drug that permits you never to require sleep. Just think of the efficiencies gained by never sleeping. Man, I could really chew through a lot of books. Unfortunately, it has some rather nasty side-effects the good corporate man would rather remain hidden. A few clues to whet your appetite:
-Memory is chemical
-N-Som ( the drug in question) is not synthetic
-fetal memory is preferred over the memory of someone just killed
-it pays to bribe mortuary assistants and couriers need to be careful not to drop a box
-FDA approval might be a good thing
-personality is a complicated exchange of neurotransmitters
-mixing the neurotransmitters of different personalities is not desirable
Normally I don't like medical thrillers, nor horror, but Konrath managed to get my attention with this title, and I dropped everything until it was finished.
Disturb involves a billionaire who has discovered a drug that permits you never to require sleep. Just think of the efficiencies gained by never sleeping. Man, I could really chew through a lot of books. Unfortunately, it has some rather nasty side-effects the good corporate man would rather remain hidden. A few clues to whet your appetite:
-Memory is chemical
-N-Som ( the drug in question) is not synthetic
-fetal memory is preferred over the memory of someone just killed
-it pays to bribe mortuary assistants and couriers need to be careful not to drop a box
-FDA approval might be a good thing
-personality is a complicated exchange of neurotransmitters
-mixing the neurotransmitters of different personalities is not desirable
Normally I don't like medical thrillers, nor horror, but Konrath managed to get my attention with this title, and I dropped everything until it was finished.
October 21, 2011
Entertaining, but there was little when it came to plot and the writing was average.
February 23, 2013
A decent medical thriller with a fast pace and a lot of twists and turns. At the same time there was really nothing completely unpredictable for this horror fan.
January 21, 2015
Just like all J.A.Konrath's books, I can't not to like it. It was fun and I listened to the audio book version which was a nice change as so far I've been reading all his work.
April 21, 2020
I was really drawn in by the synopsis of this book. A miracle drug that makes it possible to reduce sleep to a mere fifteen minutes. With money at stake, a conspiracy and hidden side effects of the drug, the agent sent in has his work cut out for him.
The book was interesting with the premise of the wonder drug at the forefront, but it was more about the coverup of the side effects and the good versus bad guys. The good guy, Dr. Mays, a recently widowed agent, who has a buried secret of his own, is quickly taken in by the daughter of the wonder drug’s creator. This part of the story I find a little unbelievable. How quickly the guy is taken in by the daughter. Early in the story, one does not know what she is hiding, but that she is hiding something...Of course, no story like this would work without the adversary to fight against. Early on, it becomes clear someone is pulling all the stops to make sure that this drug is approved. How far does the corruption go? It is apparent that the company owner is a monied reprobate...unfortunately this character is written like so many other villains. Too much money and the belief that everyone and everything is there to serve him. I believe he is too over the top, which could be prescribed by his own use of the wonder drug, or just how he was internally. This character is the driving force behind some of the other villainous characters who are puppets in the story.
There was one unexpected twist in the book that you won’t see coming. I will leave it up to you to discover. I will say, the twists are not easy to predict.
The book was interesting with the premise of the wonder drug at the forefront, but it was more about the coverup of the side effects and the good versus bad guys. The good guy, Dr. Mays, a recently widowed agent, who has a buried secret of his own, is quickly taken in by the daughter of the wonder drug’s creator. This part of the story I find a little unbelievable. How quickly the guy is taken in by the daughter. Early in the story, one does not know what she is hiding, but that she is hiding something...Of course, no story like this would work without the adversary to fight against. Early on, it becomes clear someone is pulling all the stops to make sure that this drug is approved. How far does the corruption go? It is apparent that the company owner is a monied reprobate...unfortunately this character is written like so many other villains. Too much money and the belief that everyone and everything is there to serve him. I believe he is too over the top, which could be prescribed by his own use of the wonder drug, or just how he was internally. This character is the driving force behind some of the other villainous characters who are puppets in the story.
There was one unexpected twist in the book that you won’t see coming. I will leave it up to you to discover. I will say, the twists are not easy to predict.
January 20, 2018
A new drug N-Som has been developed that gets eliminates the need for sleep, however the side effects might be more severe than advertised.
Disturb is a medical thriller with a very interesting premise but unfortunately it doesn't deliver. I think the best summary of the book actually comes from the Author himself in his afterward. He explains that Disturb came after a list of rejected novels, and as a result, he decided to write a 'by-the-numbers, straightforward, homogenous thriller' which his agent didn't think was good enough to send out to publishers. After having more success with other titles Konrath decided to self publish on his website and Amazon.
I think this best sums up what I thought of the book, the characters are under-developed which I guess makes it easier seeing as how many of them end up dying! There is a twist revealed 60% of the way though the book but it was easily guessable after a few pages. Every chapter seems to end with a cliff-hanger with either someone dying or you thinking someone has died which leads to there being no stakes in the plot.
Overall I got it for free and therefore there was nothing lost but Konrath mentions that 'there isn't much of me in the book', and I really do think that he should have a go at rewriting it in a style he is happier with - it's an interesting premise which should be explored further!
Disturb is a medical thriller with a very interesting premise but unfortunately it doesn't deliver. I think the best summary of the book actually comes from the Author himself in his afterward. He explains that Disturb came after a list of rejected novels, and as a result, he decided to write a 'by-the-numbers, straightforward, homogenous thriller' which his agent didn't think was good enough to send out to publishers. After having more success with other titles Konrath decided to self publish on his website and Amazon.
I think this best sums up what I thought of the book, the characters are under-developed which I guess makes it easier seeing as how many of them end up dying! There is a twist revealed 60% of the way though the book but it was easily guessable after a few pages. Every chapter seems to end with a cliff-hanger with either someone dying or you thinking someone has died which leads to there being no stakes in the plot.
Overall I got it for free and therefore there was nothing lost but Konrath mentions that 'there isn't much of me in the book', and I really do think that he should have a go at rewriting it in a style he is happier with - it's an interesting premise which should be explored further!
January 19, 2018
This was an okay thriller, which is sort of an oxymoron. If it's not real exciting is it really a thriller? Well, whatever it was, it was okay. The plot was less than believable. Unlike most medical thrillers that sound like they could happen, this was beyond what i consider credible. A pharmaceutical company comes up with a pill that eliminates the need for sleep. As the FDA prepares to approve the drug, the scientists who developed the pill start getting killed off. That much all sounds reasonable, i suppose, but when you add to it a split personality killer, brains being stolen, etc. it gets into ridiculous realms. Konrath is no Robin Cook.
June 13, 2018
The FDA sends Dr. Bill May to fast track approval of a new drug that supposedly eliminates the need to sleep. The problem is, though, N-SOM has some hidden, and extremely dangerous side effects. One of those effects, a psychotic killer, gets May and the daughter of the drug’s inventor in his sights. Can May survive long enough to make the dangers of N-SOM public? You’ll have to read Disturb by JA Konrath to find out.
A gripping medical thriller that will keep you awake—pun intended—and cause you to forever take the TV ads from big pharma with a large shaker of salt. This one is one of the author’s best to date.
I give it four and a half stars.
A gripping medical thriller that will keep you awake—pun intended—and cause you to forever take the TV ads from big pharma with a large shaker of salt. This one is one of the author’s best to date.
I give it four and a half stars.
September 14, 2024
4.5 STARS! Would you like to stay awake for weeks at a time with no fatigue and have better health? A psycho millionaire with a team of doctors and scientists have mastered a pill to afford that ability, or so they thought. A skillfully written thrill ride following the experiments on people and the CDER agent that's investigating the pill before going to the FDA for approval. Shady dealings, murder, and forged paperwork has Bill May questioning everything about the pill in his investigation while trying to stay alive. Delightfully gory and makes you think about the consequences of altering body make up so you don't have to sleep anymore.
November 30, 2024
Tom Mankowski is a medical examiner with the police who investigates a suspicious death. John Smith was discovered dead from sleep deprivation after being experimented with a new drug called N-SOM which prevents people from sleeping, but has major side effects. Tom is helped by Dr. Emily Black to find out what happened to John Smith. Richard Van Pelt is a wealthy business man who funds the experimental drug project. Tom requests the help of Fabler an ex-military operative and Dr. Frank Belgium a molecular biologist to help him prevent the experimental drug from being distributed before more people are found dead. I really enjoyed this amazing dark suspense thriller novel.
September 8, 2025
Wow, this book is terrible. I love most Konrath books and have read several others of the Dark Thriller series recently, which have been excellent. This, however; fails in almost every aspect. The plot is ridiculously unbelievable, with people seemingly being killed everywhere with no police/media interest in the deaths. The drug being considered is the only bright spot, although the thought the FDA would approve it is absurd. The characters are not good, the plot is not good, the resolution is not good.
It gets 2 stars only because I was able to finish it.
It gets 2 stars only because I was able to finish it.
June 27, 2017
Readable But Not Outstanding
The book had a plot that was good, but seemed to have too much in it for the story to flow. I am a fan of Konrath but this just did not seem to measure up to other books. I enjoyed some aspects, but neither characters or the storyline stand out. Maybe it needed an editor to pull together the brilliant aspects and oust the borderline ridiculous ideas. It is okay, but not his best work.
The book had a plot that was good, but seemed to have too much in it for the story to flow. I am a fan of Konrath but this just did not seem to measure up to other books. I enjoyed some aspects, but neither characters or the storyline stand out. Maybe it needed an editor to pull together the brilliant aspects and oust the borderline ridiculous ideas. It is okay, but not his best work.
June 25, 2017
Crazy!
Disturb by Konrath is a thriller about a pharmaceutical drug company trying to get N-SOM approved. N-SOM will completely replace sleeping but their are some very disturbing things in how the drug is made and it's test subjects. This is not as creepy as some of Konrath other books but it will definitely make you jump in some places. 4 stars
Disturb by Konrath is a thriller about a pharmaceutical drug company trying to get N-SOM approved. N-SOM will completely replace sleeping but their are some very disturbing things in how the drug is made and it's test subjects. This is not as creepy as some of Konrath other books but it will definitely make you jump in some places. 4 stars
December 23, 2017
BOO!!!
I began by wanting to read the whole series. Now I'm wondering if I will read any more. There's something psychopathic about killing off the characters one by one. Just as soon as I became fond of a character, proof! That character is gone. I'm taking a vacation from the series. Perhaps a very long one.
I began by wanting to read the whole series. Now I'm wondering if I will read any more. There's something psychopathic about killing off the characters one by one. Just as soon as I became fond of a character, proof! That character is gone. I'm taking a vacation from the series. Perhaps a very long one.
May 25, 2018
Brilliant book
I was completely absorbed into the plot. The characters, their thoughts and their emotions. The plot developed well and I learned several new terms whilst reading this novel.
However, I made it to the end, and just before it was all over, my dreams came crashing down. Brilliant story, average ending.
I was completely absorbed into the plot. The characters, their thoughts and their emotions. The plot developed well and I learned several new terms whilst reading this novel.
However, I made it to the end, and just before it was all over, my dreams came crashing down. Brilliant story, average ending.
April 23, 2020
This one was just good for me. The book was fairly predictable and non of the characters made me invest in their lives. I am glad that I read this book but I will not feel compelled in the future to pick it up and give it another read. Additionally, I would tell others that the author has better books out than this one.
December 25, 2017
The best medical thriller in a long time!!!!
This is so good that I stopped reading at chapter 31 to write this review it had so many twists. I would tell anyone that enjoys a good med thriller this is it!
This is so good that I stopped reading at chapter 31 to write this review it had so many twists. I would tell anyone that enjoys a good med thriller this is it!
January 3, 2018
Cliffhanger!
The book was good with lots of twists and turns right up until the end when it leaves it open ended. Yes, some of the mysteries/questions were solved but the main one was not completed.
The book was good with lots of twists and turns right up until the end when it leaves it open ended. Yes, some of the mysteries/questions were solved but the main one was not completed.
April 25, 2018
Disturb was a Disturbing read...LOL!!
J.A. Konrath at his best!! Disturb is a wicked read, full of all kinds of havoc, from start to finish!! Not for the weak of heart...lol. All kinds of death, appear in this book. Read with the lights on...lol.
J.A. Konrath at his best!! Disturb is a wicked read, full of all kinds of havoc, from start to finish!! Not for the weak of heart...lol. All kinds of death, appear in this book. Read with the lights on...lol.
May 9, 2018
This book was very good. It is about a new pill that keeps you awake. They are doing human clinical trials and the results are not good. There is a lot of violence and killing, but for some that leads to their ultimate high.
June 11, 2018
I really enjoy Konrath’s writing style. This book did not disappoint. The standalone books are usually a crap shoot since the characters aren’t established like the Jack Daniels series but this book did a good job of building characters and a nice twist at the end. Worth the read.
May 23, 2019
Far too unrealistic for me, too strange.
I could not get any joy reading this one. All the characters were incompetent, unthinking, too la Dee dah. Just unbelievable considering the setting. Wallstreet meets Carrie type of story.
I could not get any joy reading this one. All the characters were incompetent, unthinking, too la Dee dah. Just unbelievable considering the setting. Wallstreet meets Carrie type of story.
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